Gas making apparatus



March 14, 1933. C:` l, TENNEY GAS MAKING APPARATUS Filed May 18I 192 Mlm w Q WlI-P U nix ...l .w x.

M m S Q w S w Q o mw wm. 1 u m R s uw u um W QN $N` MN Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES yPa'llawr 4 01u-"ICE CHARLES i. TENNEY, F NEWTON, IoWA,

ASSIGN'OR, BY MESN'E ASSIGNMENTS, '10

SEMET-SOLVAY ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION 0F NEW Yom:

Application led May 18,

This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing artificial illuminating or heating gas. Artificial heating and illuminating gases commonly known in the art as Water gas and carbureted water gas have heretofore been commonly made in an apparatus comprising a generator, carburetor and' superheater. v

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for making an artificl al heating or illuminating gas using a generator, carbureter and superheater such asl heretofore used, together with an auxiliary fuel chamber or retort.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gas making apparatus comprising a generator, carbureter, and superheater preferably connected in series, together with an auxiliary fuel chamber above the generator and communicating therewithpso that the fuel therein may be heated during a blast runmade in the tgenerator, carbureter and superheater, means being provided for reversing the flow through the apparatus, including said auxiliary chamber.

It is also an object of the invention to make an artificial'illuminating andv heating gas by providing an apparatus including .a generator, carbureter and superheater connected in series and an auxiliary fuel chamber or retort communicating with the generator carrying out a blast run through the generator, carburetor and superheater and simultaneously heating to some degreev the fuel in 'the auxiliary chamber, then making a relverse run with air through the superheater, carbureter, auxiliary chamber and generator and passing the resulting gas to storage, and

then 'making a reverse run with steam erator, carbureter and superheater connectedv in series with an auxiliary fuel chamber or generator and passing the GAS MAKING APPARATUS 1925. serial No. 31,028.

retort above said generator having a valve between the generator and carbureter, a conduit leading from the top of the carbureter.

to the top of the auxiliarychamber, and a conduit leading from the bottom of the generator to a seal pot.

It is still another object of the invention to have an apparatus such as set forth in the preceding paragraph, and in addition, having a stack communicating with the top of the superheater, a valve controlling the outlet from the superheater to said stock,`and a conduit leadin from the top of said superheater to said stac and a conduit leading from the top of said superheater to said yseal pot.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- .with the accompanying drawing in which the different parts are designated -by reference characters, and in which, the single view is,\ for the most part, a vertical section through the apparatus, some parts thereof being shown in side elevation.

Referring to the drawing, a gas generator l is shown, as well as a carburetor 2, a super- -heater 3 and an vauxiliary fuel chamber 4.

While these various elements may be .of any -Well known and suitable construction, in the.

embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as comprising vertically disposed cylindrical chambers having walls 5 of fire brick or other refractory material surrounded by suitable casings. The generator 1, as usual, has a grate la therein and said generator has an open top portion communicating with the lower open end of an auxiliary fuel chamber or retort-l. It will be seen that the diameter of the auxiliary fuel chamber 4 is somewhat less than that of the generator 1. A passage 7 leads from the top of generator 1 to the top of carburetor 2 and a hot valve comprising a ring 8 and a vertically reciprocable plate 9 co-operating therel0 7 on the side of the valve 9 toward the generator 2 and communicates at its` other end with a passage 11 leading from the top of the auxiliary chamber 4. The passage 11 is formed by a cylindrical casing extending upwardlyfrom the openin kin the top of chamber 4, and is provided .with a removable cover 12 which may be moved in any suitable way l for the purpose of charging fuel into generator 1 and chamber- 4. 'The conduit 10, preferably, is adapted {to Ibe lopened and closed by a valve 13 shown as disposed adjacent the passage 11. -The carburetor 2 and the superheater 3, as usual, are substantially filled with openwork brick or checker brick 14 and the carburetor 2 has projecting into its top at the central portion thereof, an oil pipe 15 and a steam pipe 16 which will be connected to suitable oil andr steam supply,

respectively, which pipes are provided with controlling valves. A conduit 17 leads from the bottom of generator 1 below the grate 1a therein preferably upwardly to a seal pot or hydraulic seal 18. The latter is shown as comprising a cylindrical tank having conduits 19 with open lower ends projecting thereinto, anda conduit 20 leads from the top thereof. The lower ends ofpipe 19 projects 'below the surface of a body of water or other liquid maintained in the pot or seal 18 and theseV ends are adapted ordinarily to be opened and closed by a double swinging valve 21 mounted on a shaft extending at one side of the seal 18. It will be seen that the conduit 17 is connected to one of the pipes 19 by a horizontal portion 17a. A smaller pipe or conduit 22 extends upward from the upper end of conduit 17 to a T connection with which communicates a valve-controlled steam pipe 23 and a valve-controlled air pipe 24. The other pipe 19 is connected by a horizontal pipe or conduit 25 to a passage 26 leading from thetop of the superheater 3. The pipe 25 has a connection secured thereto from which extends a valve-controlled steam pipe 27 and a valve controlled air supply pipe 28.' At the to of the passage 26 is another hot valve simi ar to that in the passage 7 and. comprising a sharp-edged ring 29 and a reciprocating plate 30 cooperating therewith. A passage 31 is adapted`l to connect the passage 26 to a stack 32 when the valve comprising parts 29 and 30 is in open position,l as shown in the drawing. The lower end of the carburetor 2 is connected tothe lower end 5 of the superheater 3 by a passage 33 and auxiliary air supply pipes 34 are shown as communicating with the bottom of the car? buretor 2 and the superheater 3, which latter pipes will be valve-controlled. An auxiliary air supply pipe also extends into the passage 7 and this pipe also will be valve-controlled. A valve-e uipped pipe 35 extends into the top of cham er 4, through which tar may be run or sprayed into the fuel in said chamber.

In operation, the fuel consisting of bituminous or other coal will be charged into the generator 1 and the auxiliary chamber or retortk 4. This fuel will be charged into the generator 1 and chamber 4 through passage 11, cover 12 being removed for this purpose.

It will be noted that the chamber 4 is of somewhat smaller' diameter than chamber 1 so therewill be some space about the top of the chamber 1. After the fuel has thus been charged, the passage 11 is closed by its cover 12, the valve 13 closed, Athe hot valveA 9 is opened' and the stack valve 30 is opened. The fuel is now ignited inthe usual way and the air blast turned on in the pipe 24. The fuel will be heated anda blast or blow run made by passing air upward through the fuel and generator 1, the resulting gases passing through passage 7 downthrough the carbureter 2 and up through the superheater 3 to the stack 32. Additional air may also be forced into the passage 7 and into the carbureter and superheater through the pipe 34. When the fuel in the generator 1 has been brought substantially to incandescence land the checker brick in the carbureter 2 and superheater 3 highly heated by the combustion of the gases from the fuel, the air blast will be turned off.. During the blast run the fuel in the auxiliary fuel chamber 4 will be heated somewhat by the heat in generator 1 but substantially no volatile matter -or products of combustion will be driven ofi' or taken from such fuel owing to the fact that the member 4 is normally closed save for its communication with generator 1. The hot valve 9 will now beclosed, valve 13 opened, and the stack valve 30 closed. Valve 21 will also be moved to close pipe 19 communicating with the pipe 25 and open pipe 19 communicating with pipe` 17. -It may be here stated that the pipes 27 and 28, during the blast run just described,

pipe 10 andY down through the chamber 4 and generator 1. y' From the generator lathe fresulting gas will pass out through pipe 17 to the seal 18. During`the blast run the checker brick inthe superheater has been very highly heated especially at the upper part thereof. When the reverse run with air is made the air becomes very high heated in passing through the superheater and through thecarbureter. The carbon` and tar deposited on the checker brick in the superheater or carbureter during the blast runv will be burned olf by the air in the reverse run. The heated air passes downwardly through the fuelI in chamber 4, heating the same, and some combustion will take place in this chamber and carbon monoxide with some carbon dioxide will be formed. The hot air passing through the chamber 4 will also carry off a large amount of hydrocarbonsrand. the resulting gas will pass down through the coke in thel generator 1 and vout through thepipe 17. By this passage of air the temperature in chamber 4 is greatly raised and the coke in the generator is maintained at high temperature. The operation acts in effect to trans'- fer some of the heat from the highly heated upper end of the superheater to the chamber 4 and the lower part of the generator. The latter is thus kept in a highly heated condition clear to the bottom'thereof.

After a reverse run made with air, as de-` scribed, pipe 28 will be closed and a reverse run will be made with steam through the apparatus, steam being supplied through pipe 27. The steam will pass downwardly through the superheater 3 and upwardly through the carbureter 2. and owing to the fact that the checker. brick in Athe carbureter and super heater are still at a high temperature the steam will be superheated and will pass from the carbureter up through the pipe 10 and down through the fuel in retort 4 and generator 1. The fuel in thechamber or retort 4 has now been brought to quite a high terperature by the reverse run of air, and as the steam passes therethrough-and through generator 1, water gas, or carbon monoxide and hydrogen, will be formed. At the same time, this gas will carry off more of the hydrocarbons from the fuel-4 which hydrocarbons will pass down .into the hot generator chamber where they will be disrssociated and form vcoke and hydrogen. A leanl coal will thus be produced, which coal will be enriched with oil or tar. The reverse run of steam will result in transferring some of the heat from the superheater and carbureter to the fuel in chamber 4 and in the generator 1.

After the reverse steam run above de-v scribed, the valve 21. will again be moved to open the pipe 19 communicating withpipe 25 andl to close the pipe 19 communicating with pipe 17 An up run will now be made through the apparatus by supplying steam to the bottom of the generatorfrom pipe 23 through pipe 17 and this steam will pass upwardly through the hot fuel in generator 1 Aand in chamber 4 where water gas or carbon monoxide and hydrogen will be formed and some hydrocarbon will be distilled from the uncarbonized fuel. This gas will pass from chamber 4 downwardly through pipe 10, downwardly through the carbureter 2 and upwardly through the superheater 3. The carbureter 2 and the superheater`3 are still at sufficiently high temperature to eliciently fix this gas and the gas vwill be enriched with oil sprayed through the pipe 16. The gas will pass from superheater 3 through pipe 25 and pipe 19into the seal 18 and willr be conducted to storage in the usual manner. A very short purging run with air will now be made by turning air into the pipe 17 through pipe 24, which air will pass upwardly through generator 1 and through chamber 4 downwardly through pipe 10 and carbureter 2 and upwardly through the superheater 3, the gas formed during this short run passing into- I'will be `supplied by pipe 24 through pipe 17 The blast run will be made as before up through the generator through valve 8. down-. wardly through the carbureter and upwardly through the superheater 3 to the stack 32, the chamber 4 being by-passe'd during this run. as in the previous blast run;y During. the successiveruns the -fuel in chamber 4 will gradually be coked and will pass downward V` ly into the generator 1; Any tar which may be supplied through pipe 35 for enriching the gas in the reverse steam or air runs will be decomposed and the hydrocarbons thereof will be carried loil" with the gas while the carbon residue will become coked with the coal in chamber 4 and will'pass down into generator 1. The fuel charged into chamber 4 it will be noted, in .accordance with this invention, is efficiently used in the manufacture of the gas. Practically all of the caloriic value in the fuel is transferred to the resulting gas formed and a great saving will be effected by the use of the low grade fuel in supplyingv the hydrocarbon and carbon to the gas. The coking of the fuel is done in the generator chamber 1. The generator is at all times full of the proper coked fuel for mak ing water gas and this fuel feeds down'intc the generator from retort chamber 4. ln the prior methods where gas is discharged directly into the generator, with intermittent charging, the capacity of the apparatus Ais' limited and large quantities of CO2 are delveloped as a result of the unequal depth of the fuel' in the generator and blow holes Furthermore, a large portion of the volatile constituents of the fuel are carried off with the blast gases. In applicants process there is-no passage of the blast gases through the retort chamber, consequently the volatile portion of the coal is saved for the enriching ofthe water gas. The reverse run of air burns olf the deposit on the checkerbrick in the carbureter and superheater.A The reverse run of steam acts to cool olf the superheater and carbureter `and prevent the overheating of the checkerbrick. This heat is taken up by the steam which is thus superheated and a transfer of the heat is made to the other end of the apparatus.

Insteadof carrying out the cycle of runs above described, good results may also be obtained by making the runs inl slightly different order. After the first blast run, thrugh the generator, carbureter and superheater, the valves 9,13, 29 and 30 maybe closed, valve 21 being left 1n the posltion shown in the drawing. The up run may then be made by passing steam upwardly through the generator 1, which steamwlll be supplied from pipe 23 through pipe 17. This steam will pass upwardlythrough the generator and through the fuel in chamber 4 and will then pass downwardly through plpe 10, carbureter 2 and upwardly through superheater 3 and then through pipes 25 and 19 to the seal from which it will be lead, as usual,

- to a suitable scrubbing` and storing apparatus.

that in the lower part of the chamber, has already been somewhat heated and this fuel will be still more highly heated by the hot CO and hydrogen 'passing therethrough. This hot water gas-will, in passing through the chamber 4, carry olf a large quantity of hydrocarbons from said fuel and said gas will thus be'enriched. The coking process will now be begun. The gas will be fixed as usual, in the carbureter 2 and superheater 3. fAfter this gas making up run, the valve 21 will be swung to close the pipe 19 communicating with pipe 25 and open the pipe 19 communieating with pipe 17.. A reverse run of steam will now be made, the steam being supplied through pipe27. ,This steam will pass downwardly through superheater 3 and will be highly superheated therein. The steam will pass upwardly -I through carbureter 2 and through pipe 10 and then downwardly through the heated fuel in' chamber 4 and the heated fuel in carbureter 1. `Water gas will be formed in chambers 4 and 1 and the gaswill be enriched with hydrocarbons taken from the comparatively green fuel or fresh coal in chamber 4. The resulting gas will pass out at the bottom of the generator through Macomer pipe 17 and will pass upwardly therein and to the seal 18 from whence it will be conducted as usual to suitable cleaning or scrubbing apparatus and to storage. After the reverse steam run, a reverse air run will then be made, air being supplied through pipe 28, which air will pass downwardly through superheater 3 upwardly through carbureter 2 and through pipe 10. This air will be highly heated in the superheater and carbureter and will pass downwardly through the fuel in retort 4 and in generator 1. Any carbon or tar which has been deposited on the checker brickin carbureter 2 and superheater 3 will be effectively burned and cleaned therefrom by the passage of air, this combustion resulting in the formation of carbon monoxide and some carbon dioxide. These gases with the heated air pass,l

may be enriched by tar supplied through the pipe 35. This may be necessary after the operations have been carried on for several hours and the hydrocarbons from the green fuel or fresh coal inI chamber 4 largely used up and said fuel largely coked. After the reverse air run through the apparatus, the valve 13 will again be closed and valves 9 and 30 opened. Valve 21 will be again swung to close the pipe 19 communicating withl pipe 25. The apparatus will. then be ready for another blast run. If desired, a short purging run with air will be carried out by passing air upwardly through the generator 1, chamber. 4 and onward through the apparatus before changing the valves for the blast run. With the cycle of runs last described, the fuel in the bottom of the generator 1 will be cooled by the first gas making up run and this fuel will again be somewhat re-heated in the reverse runs.v

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and eiiicient apparatus for making artificial illuminating or heating gas. Asset forth, a great saving in fuel is effected, both in the cost of the fuel used for coki-ng purposes and the fuel used for enriching the gas.- By the reverse run of air the checker brick and the superheater and carbureter are very effectively cleaned. By the use of the chamber 4 and the arrangement of the runs therethrough, as described, the gas is discharged to the seal in a comparatively cool condition. In the ordinary use of the three shell machine the gas passes buretor, a conduit leadin i' from said carthrough the highly heated fuel in the generator and the highly heated checker brick of the carbureter and superheater. The upper 5 part of the superheater -is usually heated to p a very high degree and it will thus be seen that the gas leaving the superheater will be at a very high temperature. This high temperature of the gas is objectionable Aas waste- 10 ful of the heat. The `gas made in thereverse runs will cool olf thesuperheater and the carbureter to some extent and leave the bottom of the generator in a comparatively cool condition. When the gas making up run is performed, the checker brick in thecarbureter and superheater .are reduced somewhat' in temperature, particularly that atth top of the superheater so that the gas also leaves the superheater in comparatively cool condi- 20 tion.

when the great saving in fuelis considered.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be'made in thc-form, details,

said superheater to said washbox,4and a single valve for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously clos ing the other. v

2. A Water gas plant including1 a slngle generator, a singlecarburetor, an a single superheater connected in series, :a washbox, a"

gas line leading from said generator to said Washbox and by-passing said carburetor and superheater, a gas line leading directl from said superheater to said washbox, an a single valve for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other.

v 3. A carburetted water gas making apparatus in combination, a generator, a substanb tially unobstructed fuel-receiving chamber 5 disposed over and communicating with said generator so as to feed fuel thereto, a Igas passage leading from the top of said generator, a carburetor with which, said passage communicates, means for i closing said passage, a superheater in series with said cararrangement and proportions of the appara-v buretor to thev top of sai chamber, means f for closing said conduit, means for directn air into said superheater and successively bac through the said carburetor, conduit, chamber and enerator for generating gas, a gas line leadmg from the base of said generator and by-passing the carburetor and superheater, a second gas line leading from the superheater, and valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other'.

4. A carburetted water gas making apparatus having in combination, a generator, a substantially unobstructed fuel-receiving chamber disposed over and communicating with said generator so as to feed fuel thereto, a gas passage leading from the top of s-aid generator, a carburetorwith which said pas- 'sagev communicates, means for closing said passage, a superheater in series with said car buretor, a conduit leadin from said carburetor to the top of 'sai chamber, means for closing sai d conduit, means for directing `steam into said superheater and successively back through said carburetor, conduit, chamber and enerator for generating gas,l a gas line -leadlng from the base ofsaid generator and by-passing the carburetor and superheater, a second -gas line leading from the superheater, and valvemechanism for alternately4 opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other.

5. A Water gas plant including a single generator, a fuel-receiving chamber communic'ably connected vWith saidv generator, a i` single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and by-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from Vsaid superheater, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means for passing air through said generator, passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing air in a reverse direction through the heated superheater into and through the fuel in said chamber, means for passing the resultant gas through the fuel in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said enerator.

6. carburetted water gas plant including a single generator, a fuel receiving chamber communicably. connected with l.said generator, a single carburetor,l and a single superheater co'nnectedin series, a washbox, a gas line leading from said generator to said washox and by-passing said carburetor and superheater',.a gas line leading directly from said superheater to said washbox, valve mechlinesL and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means for passing air through said generator, passing the resultant blast. gases through `the superheater to heat the 'anism for alternately opening one of said same, means for passing air in a reverse direction through the heated superheater, carburetor, and into and vthrough the fuel in said chamber, means for passing the resultant gas from the chamber through the fuel in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

7. A water gas plant including a .single generator, a fuel-receiving chamber communicably connected with said generator, a single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and by-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said superheater, a valve for alternatelyopening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means for passing air through said generator, passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing steam in a reverse direction through thev heated superheater into and through the fuel in said chamber, means for passing the resultant gas from the chamber through the fuel in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said vgenerator.

8. A carburetted water gas plant including a single generator, a fuel-receiving chamber communicably connected with said generator, a single carburetor, and a single superheater connected in series, a Washbox, a gas line leading from said generator to said washboX, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneouslymlosing the other, means for passing air through said enerator, passing the resultant blast gases t rough the carburetor and superheater to heat the same, means for passing steam in a reverse direction through the heated superheater and carburetor into and through the fuel in said chamber, means for passing the resultant gas from said chamber through the fuel in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

9. A Water gas plant including a single generator, a fuel-receiving chamber communicably connected with said generator, a single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and by-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said superheater, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other,

means for passing air through the fuel in said generator and passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing steam throughthe fuel in said generator up through the fuel in said chamber, passing the resultant water gas into and through the superheater, means for passing steam in a reverse direction through the superheater into and through the fuel in said chamber and said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator. l

l0. A water gas plant including a single generator, a single superheater, and a gas line leading directly from said .generator and by-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said superheater, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means for passing air through said generator and passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing air in a reverse direction through the heated superheater, into and through the fuel in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

11. A carburetted water gas plant including a single generator, a single carburetor, and a single superheater connected in series, a gas line leading from Said enerator and by-passing said carburetor an superheater, a gas line leading from said superheater,

valve mechanism for alternatelyopening one passing air in a reverse direction throughl the heated superheater and carburetor, into and through the fuel bed in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

l2. A water gas plant including a single generator and a single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and bypassing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said superheater, and valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other.

13. A water gas plant including a single generator and a single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and by-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said superheater, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means for passing air through the generator and passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing steam in a reverse direction through the heated superheater into and through the fuel bed in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

14. A water gas plant including a single generator having a fuel bed therein, a single superheater, a gas line leading directly from said generator and luy-passing the superheater, a gas line leading directly from said ioo los

lll

passing air through thefuel in said generator and passing the resultant blast gases through the superheater to heat the same, means for passing steam in a reverse-direction t rough the superheater into the generator, means for adding hydrocarbon enriching material to said steam, means for passing the resultant `mixture of steam and hydrocarbon enriching material through the fuel bed in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

15. A water gas plant including a single generator having a bed o fuel therein, a single carburetor, and a single superheater connected in series, a gas line leading from said generator and by-passing said carburetor and superheater, a gas line -leading directly from said superheater, valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other, means Jfor passing air through rthe fuel bed in said generator and passing the resultant blast gases through the carburetor and superheater to heat the same, and means for passing steam in a reverse direction through the heated superheater, carburetor, and in-to said generator, means for adding a hydrocarbon enriching material to said steam, means for passing the resultant mixture of-steam and hydrocarbon enriching material through the fuel bed in said generator, and means for withdrawing the resultant gas from said generator.

Cal

16. A water gas plant including a single generator, a single carburetor, and a singlev superheater connected in series, 'a gas line leading from said generator and by-passing said carburetor and superheater, and a gas line leading from said superheater,.and valve mechanism for alternately opening one of said lines and substantially simultaneously closing the other.

In testimony whereof I aliix m signature.

CHARLES I. T NNEY. 

